Promised You To The Moon (PUBLISHED UNDER CLP)

Chapter 10.1

"U-Uh, I don't want to study there. I prefer studying here in the Philippines." Pag-tanggi ni Juan. I frowned 'cause I still remember when we were kids na gusto daw niyang sa Top School mag-aral. Why is he rejecting the offer now? Nag-bago na rin ba ang mga pangarap niya sa buhay?

"I'm sorry but my son is a consistent one, so I guess you won't be able to convince him. If he wants it, he'll work hard until he gets it. But if he doesn't, he doesn't. His decisions don't change, unless his girl makes the choice." Sabat pa ni Tito Chris habang natawa. I know I was that 'girl' tito was talking about.

"Oh, then it's really you, Ms. Andrada. This is your chance; we hope you'll accept our offer. You're a bright kid. You have a better future there." No, I actually have a better future here with Juan. I could only murmur those words in my head 'cause Dad was here. Kung 'di niya lang 'yon gusto, matagal ko na 'yong tinanggihan. Ayaw ko naman talaga sa ibang bansa.

Tumalikod na para umalis 'yung dalawang foreigners and Dad was left in front of me, "You shouldn't have humiliated me like that. You're disappointing me, Elara." I scoffed.

Humiliated? Ngayon ko na nga lang nasunod ang sarili kong gusto, then he'll say he's humiliated? After everything I worked hard for para lang maging proud siya, he's still disappointed?

I saw how Juan lost his grip, mukhang galit siya but he still looks so composed, "I never wanted to be the number one, Dad. It's all you, ikaw lang naman ang may gusto no'n." Kita ko kung paano nag-tiim ang bagang ni Dad, oh he was angry. He really was.

"I just wanted your mom to regret leaving us." There were tears surrounding his eyes before he left, 'di ko na rin namalayan na may tumulo na lang ring luha sa pisnge ko. I felt Juan's arms around me, he was not saying anything, he just let me feel what I was feeling in his arms.

Humiwalay ako sa kan'ya nang may makita akong pamilyar na mukha. It was a mom rushing to the girl from the other pair that we had a tough match with. They hugged each other so tight kahit pa second place lang ang anak niya. I was envious.

I was envious because it was my mom with her other daughter. Siya 'yung anak niya sa lalaking ipinalit niya kay Daddy. It hurted me even more.

I can feel na naramdaman ni Juan kung sino ang tinititigan ko ngayon. "Want to talk to them?"

Tumango naman ako at sinamahan ako. With his face, I think he was scared that I might make a scene or cry or get angry even more. But I won't. I think I should just be happy that my mom found another home. That she's happy, even if it's not with us. But with her other family.

I saw how surprised my mom was. Kung paano nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita akong naglalakad papunta sa kanila. It's impossible that she didn't know that I was here dahil in-aannounce lagi ng host ang pangalan ng nakakapag-recite ng tamang sagot, and they even said my name and Juan's name out loud when we won.

"Elara..." She looked at me as if she saw a ghost.

"Congrats sa'yo." Idinako ko ang tingin ko sa anak niya at nakipagkamay. Congratulations on making my mom happy, I guess. 'Cause I think our family failed to do that, kasi kung napa-saya namin siya, hindi na siya maghahanap pa ng ibang pamilya.